Draft rigging



Oct. 25, 1932. D. s. BARRWS ET A1. 1,884,518

DRAFT RIGG'ING Filed Nov. 1, 192e s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1932. D. s.BARRows ET AL 1,884,518

DRAFT RIGG'ING Fiied Nov. 1. 192e 3 sheets-sheet 2 56 40 auen/Coz MKM,

Oct. 25, 1932.

D. S. BARROWS ET AL DRAFT RIGGING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov] 1, 1926Patented Oct. 25, 1932 yUNITED STATES PATENT ol-Fica DONALD S. BARROWSAND GLENN F. COUCH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS y'10 THE GOULDCOUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND DRAFTRIGGING Application led November 1, 1926. Serial No. 145,678.

This invention relates to draft rigging and cushioning mechanismtherefor, and, more particularly, to friction cushioning mechanis-madapted for replacing twin spring draft gear for railway cars.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is theprovision of a compact and rugged friction cushioning mechanismparticularly adapted for use with railwa draft rigging and designed tobe relatively tall, but of small longitudinal dimension, so as toreplace or interchange with twin spring draft gear, said mechanism beingso designed that it efficiently cooperates with the associated partsrofthe rigging and is held in proper position when in service.

An object of our invention is the provision of a relatively shortfriction draft gear of high capacity adapted for reception between theusual form ofy front follower and an associated horizontal yoke, saidmechanism preferably comprising outer or frontjand rear frictionelements provided with end walls from which ,top and bottom walls formedwith inclined friction surfaces eX- tend, said friction surfacescooperating with corresponding surfaces on intermediate frictionelements, which intermediate elements are urged apart and intoengagement with the end elements byresilient means positionedtherebetween, which resilient means preferably talres the form of curvedleaf or plate springs for economizing space.

Another obj ect of our invention is the provision of a cushioningmechanism formed relativelyY Short and deep so that it may interchangewith twin spring draft gear, said mechanism, for the purpose, havingfront and rear friction casings or elements provided with upper andlower inclined friction surfaces and intermediate elements positionedtherebetween, said intermediate friction elements being disposed oneabove the other, the upper element being formed with downwardly slopingfriction surfaces cooperating with the upper friction surfaceson theouter elements and the lower intermediate element being formed withupwardly sloping friction surfaces cooperating with the lower frictionsurfaces on the outer elements, said cooperating friction surfaces beingpreferably urged together by curved leaf springs arranged between theintermediate friction elements so that said springs will remain inproper position during operation of the gear without auxiliary retainingmeans therefor and retaining bolts extending into correspondingperforations in the outer friction elements for limiting relativemovement therebetween and retaining the same in proper assembledrelation.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a cushioningmechanism adapted to interchange with twin spring draft gear andjformedwith kfront and rear friction casings having upper and lower inclinedfriction surfaces, intermediate friction elements positionedtherebetween and normally disposedr one above the other, said elementi-sbeing formed with friction surfaces cooperating with the frictionsurfaces on the front and rear friction casings, said cooperatingsurfaces being urged together by curved leaf springs positioned betweenintermediate friction elements, said leaf springs being formed withbosses thereon for interlocking said springs together and maintainingthe .same in proper position with respect to the intermediate frictionelements, a filler piece being preferably provided between said springs,the outer friction elements, ifdesired, being formed with pockets at thecorners thereof opening toward each other and springs mounted in saidpockets to facilitate release of the mechanism and keep the front andrear friction casings in alinement.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention 'relating to the particulararrangement and combination of the various parts will become apparent asthe description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating our invention, the scope whereofis defined by the appended claims: Y v y Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa draft rigging einbodying our invention, certain of the elementsthereof being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan of the embodiment of' our draft gear detached fromthe associated draft rigging parts.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the gear shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 4 4 ofFigure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4looking in the direction of the arrows.

\ Figure 6 isa front end elevational view corresponding to Figure 3 butshowing a slightly modified form of our invention.

Figure 7 is a partial long'tudinal vertical sectional view on the line7-7 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

.Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 9-9 ofFigure 10, said view corresponding generally to Figures 4 and 7 butshowing another embodiment of our invention.

,Fi ure 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan of the embodiment `shown in Figures 9 and 10.

HReferring to the drawings in detail. like parte beiner designated bylike reference characters, and first considering the embodiment ofqurinvention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown adraft gear or cushioning mechanism 1 positioned between the' rear orU-shaped portion 2 of a usual form of horizontal yoke 3 and a frontfollower 4. Thetforward ends of the arms of the yoke 3 areonnected tothe rear end of a coupler 5 by .means of a key 6 extending throughcorrespondingly slotted portions of the coupler, yoke and associateddraft sills (not shown) m accordance with usual practice with Farlowattachments. In a similar manner, the front follower 4 is held in properassembled relationwith respect to the rigging by a key 7 extendingthrough correspondingly slotted portions in the associated sills, (notshown yoke 3 and follower 4. The rear or U-shape portion 2 of the yoke 3is preferably adapted to abut the backstop 8 positioned and held betweenthe draft sills (not shown) in any AJdesired manner.

In the present embodiment of our invention, our cushioning mechanism,which is `particularly adapted for use with railway draft rigging,comprises a front or outer frietion elementy of casing 9, a rear orouter friction element or casing 10, an intermediate or top frictionelement 11 and an intermediate or bottom friction element 12. The frontfriction element or casing 9 preferably comprisesan end wall 13 fromwhich extend an inwardly vand upwardly inclined wall provid'in afriction surface 14 and a downwardl .an inwardly inclined wall providinga riction surface 15. The end wall 13 is adapted to abut thecorresponding wall 16 of the front follower 4 and, on this account, maybe provided with a relatively large aperture 17, adapted to be coveredby the end wall 16, and approximately circular indentations or apertures18 normally registering with and adapted to receive the usual springpositioning lugs 19 on the front follower 4, whereby said front followerand front friction element 9 are normally interlocked so that the gearis retained in the desired assembled relation. In this connection, itshould be noted that inasmuch as our draft gear is particularly adaptedfor replacing and interchanging with twin spring draft gear, the same ispreferably used with the usual form of front follower employed with sucha gear and, therefore, such `a follower is normally provided with springpositioning lugs 19 heretofore referred to.

The rear friction element 10 is preferably formed with a rear wall 2Obordered at its upper and lower edges byL flanges or ribs 21 and 22,respectively, providing a. groove or depression therebetween forreceiving the rear or U-shaped portion 2 of the associated yoke 3, suchcooperative association obviousproviding for retaining the frictionelement 10 in the desired assembled relation with respect to said yoke.Extending forwardly and upwardly from the wall 20 is a wall providinganinclined friction surface 23 and extending downwardly and 'forwardlyfrom the wall 20 is a Wall providing an inclined friction surface 24.The friction surr faces 14 and 23 on the frontand rear friction elementsare adapted for frictional engagement with the correspondingly inclinedfriction surfaces 25 and 26 on the upper intermediate friction element11 andv the lower friction surfaces 15 and 24 are correspondinglyadapted for enga ement with the nclined friction surfaces 2y and 28 onthe lower intermediate friction element 12.

The intermediate friction elements 11 and 12 are urged away from eachother upwardly 7 and downwardly, respectively, so that their frictionsurfaces engage the corresponding friction surfaces on the frictionelements 9 and 10. The resilient means, for this urpose, in the presentinstance, takes the orm of transversely curved plate springs 29 arrangedin two groups with the convex sides thereof positioned toward eachother. By

means of this arran ement, it is unnecessary l the intermediate frictionelements 11 and 12.

In order to prevent undue separation of the friction elements 9 and 10when detached from the associated parts of the draft rigging, theadjacent portions of the elements 9 and 10 are preferably formed withupper registering perforations 30 and lower registering perforations 31,respectively receiving retaining bolts 32 and 33. It will be apparentthat said bolts permit closing of the gear until the adjacent portionsof the friction elements 9 and 1U engage, while preventing undueseparation of said elements.v In order that the friction element 9 maypresent a smooth surface to the adjacent follower e, the heads of thebolts 32 and 33 are preferably countersunk into the, end wall asillustrated particularly in Figure Ll. The bolts are preferably threadedat the opposite ends thereof and castle nuts or other retaining means 34applied thereon, whereby the effective length is maintained constant byhaving said nuts locked in place by cotters or the like 35.

For rigidifying the construction of the friction elements, which arepreferably or conveniently formed as castings, webs 36 may be provided.between the inclined walls and flanges and the rear wall of thefriction element l0 and longitudinal webs or ribs 37 may be providedbetween the inclined walls providing the friction surfaces 25m-26 and27-28. It will be noted that although the bolts 32 and 33 are receivedin the front friction element 9 for substantially the full lengththereof so that said bolts are retained in proper angular relation withrespect to said element, yet the threaded ends of said bolts extendthrough only flanges on the rear friction element l0, the purpose ofwhich being to permit said friction element 10 to move toward theelement 9 by sliding on the bolts 32 and 33 without, 'at the same time,increasing t-he over-all length of the gear by causing l the threadedends of the bolts to extend bebeyond the corresponding end of the gear.

Referring now to the modification of our invention illustrated inFigures 6, 7 and 8, a similar construction is there disclosed exceptthat the plate or leaf springs 29a are curved or disposed longitudinallyof the gear la instead of transversely thereof, that is, the curvatureis from one end of the associated friction elements 11a and 12a to theother end thereof rather than from one side to the other side as in thefirst embodiment. On account of this construction, it is necessary toprovide retaining means for preven ing the curved ends of the springs29EL from slipping off the ends of the friction elements llEL and 12aand interfering with the action of the gear. Said springs, in thepresent embodiment, are, therefore, retained in place with respect tothe intermediate frictionelements lla yand l2 by means of a plurality oftransverse retaining pins 38 extending through slots 39 in the platesprings and corresponding apertures 40 in the friction elements lla and12a. In order to permit the reta.. ing pins 33 to move with respect tothe friction elements 9al and 10a, the same are provided withappropriately slotted or notched portions ll for receiving pins 38 uponclosure of the invention illustrated in Figures 9, l0 and ll,

a construction is there disclosed which is generally similar to thatillustrated in Figuresv l to 5, inclusive, except that pro-vision ismade for insuring quick release of the mechanism.

The mechanism or draft gear shown in these r.

figures, therefore, comprises a front or outer friction element 9b and arear'or outer friction element 10b, said elements being formed withinwardly directed and diverging fric tion surfaces, as in the firstembodiment, cof operating with corresponding friction surfaces onintermediate friction elements 11b and 12b. Said elements, as in theprevious embodiments, are urged apart by curved leaf springs 29" whichleaf springs, if desired,

may be separated by ller means 42.

ln accordance with the present embodi ment, the Lslate springs 29h areshown formed with generally conical bosses or nubs 4:3, each of whichcooperates with a corresponding indentation in the adjacent spring, thebosses on the outer spring plates, however, engaging in correspondingindentations Llain the intermediate friction elements 11b and 12b.

rThe retaining bolts 3l", instead of being formed with countersunk headsas in the previous embodiments, are preferably provided with square orother non-circular heads 33b which, when the nuts 341 are tightened inplace, coopera-te with the adjacent walls of the end friction element 9band prevent turnA ing of the bolts 3lb thereby facilitating assembly ofthe gear. Bolts with similar heads may be employed, if desired,alternatively with the bolts 30 of the first embodiment.

In order to assist the springs 29", increase the capacity of the gear,insure prompt release of said gear, and keep the friction casings orelements 9b an d 10b in alinement, release springs 4:5 are provided.Said springs Ll5 are preferably coil compression springs. one of whichis positioned at each corner of the casings 9b and 10b, as illustratedparticularly in Figures l0 and ll. ln order to provide for holding andhousing the corresponding ends of the springs, the end walls 2Ob arecontinued upwardly and downwardly to substantially the full height andwidth of the gear as indicated particularly at 46. From these end wallsextend curved beads or flanges 4l? Vproviding pockets i8 in which thecorresponding ends of the springs t5 are received and fit. The innerends of the inclined portions of the end wall E20b may be extendedupwardly and downwardly to surround intermediate portions of the springs45 as indicated at 49. Spring pockets 50 are also preferabl provided inthe friction element 9".

rom the foregoing, it will be apparent that the modification illustratedin Figures 9, 10 and 11 corresponds fairly closely with that of thefirst embodiment of our invention eX- cept for the springs 45 whichincrease the capacity of the gear and serve to keep the end frictionelements in proper alinement. If desired, the bolts 31b may correspondwith those of the first embodiment although it is preferred to have theheads non-circular as it makes the assembly of the parts easier. Thespacing member 42 between the springs 29" may be omitted, if desired, asin the first embodiment, although it would then be preferable to placethe sets of springs E29b convex toward each other rather than concavetoward each other as in the present embodiment. In the latter embodimentby virtue of fixing the springsets convex outwardly or concave towardeach other, it is possible to provide for properly interlocking saidsprings with respect to the associated intermediate friction elements asheretofore disclosed. As in thc first embodiment, apertures or pockets18b are provided for receiving cooperating positioning bosses 19 on theusual front follower.

Although we have described our cushioning mechanism as employed withFarlow attachments comprising a horizontal yoke, backstop, frontfollower and draft keys, yet we do not wish to be limited to such use assaid mechanism, if desired, may be employed with other forms of draftrigging and used with other types of yokcs than here disclosed. Althoughthe gear has been shown as used in a vertical position and suitable forreplacing twin spring draft gears, yet, if desired, it may be used inother positions, foi` example, in a horizontal position. From theforegoing disclosure of our invention, it will be apparent that we havedevised a compact gear which,

. although occupying very little space because of the use of leafsprings may be of relatively high capacity by virtue of the greatstrength which may be given to such springs. lt will be apparent that agear of great flexibility has been devised which is adapted for use innumerous relations and, because of the relatively simple form of theparts, such gears may be constructed at relatively small cost.

Having now described our invention, we claim: v

1. A cushioning mechanism comprising relatively short outer frictionelements formed with end walls and portions of each extending closetoward those of the other and formed with inclined friction surfaces,one of said outer friction elements being formed with indentationsadapted to receive spring positioning lugs, whereby it is adapted tointerchange with twin spring gear for use with railway draft rigging,intermediate friction elements positioned therebetween and formed withcorrespondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the frictionsurfaces on the outer elements, and resilient means positioned betweenthe intermediate friction elements to urge them apart ments, andresilient means positioned be- "3 tween the intermediate frictionelements to urge them apart and into engagement with the frictionsurfaces on the outer friction elements.

3. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising outer friction elements formed with end walls and inclinedfriction surfaces extending therefrom, the end wall of one of saidelements being formed with apertures adapted for receiving positioninglugs on an associated follower, the end walls of both of said outerfriction element-s being provided with inwardly opening pockets, coilcompression springs mounted in said pockets to facilitate release of themechanism, intermediate friction elements positioned between said outerfriction elements and formed with correspondingly inclined frictionsurfaces engaging the friction surfaces on the outer elements, andresilient means positioned between the intermediate friction elements tourge them apart and into engagement with the friction surfaces on theouter friction elements.

4. In a draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, a coupler, a followerheld in position between the elements of said yoke to the roar `of saidcoupler and a cushioning mechanism cooperating with said follower anddisposed 53 between the same and the rear end of the yoke, saidmechanism comprising front and rear friction elements formed with endwalls and inclined friction surfaces extending therefrom and toward eachother, said fricl tion elements cooperating, respectively, with thefollower and the engaging portion of the yoke for retaining the same inproper assembled relation, intermediate frietion elements positionedbetween said front and rear friction elements and formed with frictionsurfaces engaging the friction surfaces on the front and rear elements,resilient means positionod between the intermediate friction elements toforce them apart and into engagement with the friction surfaces on theother friction elements and retaining means connecting the front andrear friction elements, permitting limited relative movement thereof andserving to maintain said friction elements in assembled relation evenwhen dis connected from the associated draft rigging.

5. ln a draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, a coupler connected tosaid yoke, a follower held in position between the elements of said yoketo the rear of said coupler and a cushioning mechanism cooperating withsaid follower and disposed between the same and the rear end of theyoke, said mechanism comprising front and rear friction elements formedwith end walls and inclined friction surfaces extending therefrom, theend wall of said frontelement being formed with apertures and the rearwall of the follower being formed with corresponding positioning lugsreceivable in said apertures, intermediate friction elements positionedtherebetween and formed with correspondingly inclined surfaces engagingthe friction surfaces on the front and rear elements, and resilientmeans positioned between the intermediate friction elements to urge themapart and into engagement with the friction surfaces on the outerfriction elements.

6. In a draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, a coupler, a followerheld in position between the elements of said yoke to the rear of saidcoupler and a cushioning mechanism cooperating with said follower anddisposed between the same and the rear end of the yoke, said mechanismcomprising front and rear friction elements formed with end walls andinclined friction surfaces eX- tending therefrom and toward each other,spring receiving pockets on the end wall of each friction elementinwardly opening toward corresponding spring receiving pockets on theother friction element, a spring positioned in each of said pockets tofacilitate release of the mechanism, said friction elements cooperatingrespectively with the follower and the engaging portion of the yoke forretaining the same in proper assembled relation, intermediate frictionelements positioned between said front and rear friction elements andform-ed with friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces on thefront and rear friction elements and resilient means positioned betweenthe intermediate friction elements to force them apart and intoengagement with the friction surfaces on the other friction elements.

7. In a draft rigging, in combination, a horizontal yoke, a coupler,means connecting said coupler and yoke, a front follower disposedrearwardly of said coupler between the arms of said yoke and providedwith rearwardly extending lugs, cushioning mechanism disposed rearwardlyof said follower and embraced by said yoke and comprising relativelyshort closely spaced friction elements formed with end walls andinclined friction surfaces extending therefrom, the friction elementsadjacent the front follower receiving the lugs on said follower,intermediate friction elements positioned therebetween and formed withcorrespondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the frictionsurfaces on the outer elements, and plate springs disposed between theintermediate friction elements to force them apart and into engagementwith the friction surfaces on the outer friction elements.

8. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft riggingcomprising outer friction elements formed with end walls and portionswith inclined friction surfaces extending therefrom, intermediatefiction elements positioned therebetween and formed with correspondinglyinclined friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces on the outerelements, curved plate springs positioned between the intermediatefriction elem-ents and adapted to be straight.- ened when the mechanismis compressed, and transverse pins with their end portions received inapertures in the intermediate friction elements and having their endsslidable between and guided by parallel walls on the outer frictionelements, said plate springs having slots at their ends receivingintermediate portions of said pins for preventing said springs fromslipping out of position with respect to said intermediate frictionelements.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

DONALD S. BARROWS. GLENN F. COUCH.

